Beijing

Beijing, the historic capital and cultural heart of China, is a city where past, present, and future meet. In the past few decades, the city has transformed itself into a modern metropolis with towering skyscrapers, glitzy shopping districts, and multi-lane highways. Nonetheless, Beijing’s centuries-old traditions and stories are still never more than an alley away.

On your journey with us you will tour ancient imperial sites and then, without skipping a beat, wind through traditional neighborhood lanes like a local. You will marvel at the Great Wall, the majestic world wonder, and have the chance to explore dense markets teeming with pearls, silks, foods, and furniture. Additionally, we can arrange spectacular panoramic views of the city, succulent Peking Duck dinners, and evening theatrical performances of Peking Opera and Kungfu at your request.

Day 1: Upon your arrival, our English speaking local guide will meet you at the arrivals gate holding a sign with your names on it and transfer you to the hotel.

Day 2: In the morning, visit Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world, surrounded by China’s most important political institutions. Next, visit the Forbidden City, the ancient home to the imperial family before the 1911 Revolution and a marvelous monument to Chinese architecture. The city contains a magnificent collection of Chinese bronzes, porcelain, paintings, jade and other treasures. The Forbidden City will be followed by a visit to some traditional neighborhoods that date back centuries and lunch with a local family. These neighborhoods or “hutongs” are traditional alleys where communities live in close proximity. The wood and stone craftsmanship in these hutongs are intricate and are not seen anymore in modern Chinese buildings. Later, a rickshaw trip through Beijing’s hutongs will give you a bit of a glimpse of what life was like in ancient Beijing.
In the evening, we have included VIP tickets to the Beijing Opera. Beijing Opera has origins that extend back over 200 years. The Chinese opera is widely regarded as the highest expression of Chinese culture and it is known as one of the three main theatrical systems in the world.

Day 3: Today, join your private car and local guide for a trip to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. The Great Wall is one of the great wonders of the world and deservedly so. There is nothing quite like standing on the top tower, looking at the wall snaking its way across the tops of the mountains, and envisioning ancient armies locked in combat. After a brief hike on the Wall, you will have lunch, followed by a visit to the Ming Tombs where the Ming Dynasty’s imperial family is buried. Be impressed by the beauty of the tomb’s location and the tranquility of its surroundings. The selection of the grave sites is based on wind patterns and water levels to ensure that only benevolent spirits will inhabit the area. On your way back to the city, have a short visit to a cloisonné ware factory, which is a famous local craft form. The technique used today of inlaid copper and enamel filling was developed over 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. For dinner, we will head back to the city for you to sample Beijing’s most famous delicacy — Peking Duck.

Day 4: Today is free for your own exploration

Day 5: In the morning, take a tour of the Summer Palace, built by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty as his summer retreat from the Forbidden City modeled after the famous gardens and lakes of Southern China. The palace was formerly used as elegant apartments for members of the royal family and the buildings there still contain the original jewel-encrusted furniture and other precious art objects. Longevity Hill is the focal point of the Summer Palace and the panoramic view from the summit is well worth the climb. After lunch the afternoon is free for your own exploration. Tonight transfer to the train station for an overnight train ride to Xi’An.

Xi'An

Xi’An, also known as Chang’An in ancient times, is the birthplace of ancient civilization in the Yellow River basin. During Xi’An’s three thousand-year history, 13 dynasties have situated their capitals here. Because of its long history as China’s capital city, Xi’An is considered one of the four major ancient civilization capitals along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome.

Day 6: Meet your local guide at the train station and transfer to the hotel to freshen up. Then with your private car and guide, take a trip to the Terracotta Warriors excavation site and museum for a tour of one of the greatest archeological treasures in the world. There are over 7,000 life size figures in the vault, as well as realistic portraits of the soldiers. A hangar constructed over the site allows visitors to walk around on platforms to view the figures. After lunch the afternoon is free for you to walk through the lively Muslim quarter with all of its scents, colors, and knickknack stalls. In the evening, enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show.

Day 7: After breakfast, visit the Shaanxi Museum which has a rich collection of central Chinese artifacts (currently the museum houses about 80,000 pieces). Then visit the Bell Tower situated in the center of the old city and the ancient City Wall. This wall is the best preserved city wall in China. Its history can be traced back to 1370 CE. In the evening, gather for a dumpling dinner, a Xi’An culinary specialty.

Guilin

The stunning landscape where the city is situated has a kind of magic that captivates all visitors to the place. The bizarrely-shaped hills with the verdant vegetation make Guilin a popular city for travel and sightseeing. Located in the northeast of Guangxi, Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China’s thriving tourist industry.

Day 8: Ludi Caves and Duxiu Hill

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Guilin. On arrival, you will be  transferred to the Ludi Caves and Duxiu Hill. The natural rock formations in Ludi Caves comprise some of the most extraordinary underground scenery in China. DuXiu Hill is a beautiful solitary peak which rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape. On some days, the peak appears to have a purple/golden glow at sunset.

Day 9: Li River cruise, Yangshuo

After breakfast, take in the breathtaking scenery of Guilin on a Li River boat cruise. End the cruise in Yangshuo and pick up your bikes  for a three to four-hour ride with a guide to the surrounding local villages. Yangshuo is characterized by its minority culture and local scenery and biking is the best way to experience it all. After the bike ride, return to Yangshuo for dinner and to explore the market area by foot. In the evening, enjoy the Liu San Jie Lights and Sound Show. After the show, transfer back to your hotel in Guilin.

Day 10: Longsheng

Today, we will drive to Longsheng. After arrival, walk up to the terraces and have a light lunch before your 3-hour walk/hike through the beautiful rice terraces and a few Yao and Dong minority villages along the way. After the hike, return to a local guesthouse for some tea and snacks before traveling back to Guilin. Tonight you have the evening free to explore Guilin at your leisure.

Shanghai

An intense vitality and sophistication is in the air in Shanghai. The city offers you the opportunity to see a rapidly modernizing Chinese city at work. Notwithstanding Shanghai’s continued modernization of its infrastructure, lifestyle and availability of consumer goods, the city at the turn of the millennium is, nonetheless, inextricably linked with its colonial past.

In Shanghai, experience the unbridled energy of China’s most stylish and modern city. During your private tour, learn about Shanghai’s history through the architecture of the Bund, the French Concession, Pudong and other districts. Also tour some of China’s best museums, including the Shanghai City Planning Museum. Take in a bit of modernity with a walk through some of the up-and-coming neighborhoods filled with art galleries, design shops and stylish new restaurants.

Day 11: Arrival

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 12: The Bund, Old City, Yu Yuan Garden, French Concession, Chinese acrobatic performance

Join your private car and local guide to visit the Bund and the Old City. The Old City is the longest continuously inhabited part of the city, with a fully restored classical Chinese garden – the Yu Yuan Garden, neighborhood bazaars and the traditional Huxinting Tea House. This afternoon, take a stroll in the former French Concession District, a five square block area called Xin Tian Di. Fashioned from century-old brick houses called shi ku men, this labyrinth of flagstone alleyways holds art galleries, boutiques, nightclubs and restaurants. In the evening, enjoy VIP tickets to a Chinese acrobatic show.

Acrobatics is an interactive art form. Everyone can easily appreciate the talent and strength exhibited by the performers. Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts. Its history can be traced back to Neolithic times. It is believed that acrobatics grew out of labor and self-defense skills, which people practiced and demonstrated during their leisure time.

Day 13: Zhujiajiao, Shanghai Museum, Huangpu River Cruise

This morning, we will drive to Zhujaijiao. This is an ancient water town just south of the Yangtse River. Located west of Shanghai,  Zhujiajao has a well preserved collection of Ming and Qing architecture, ancient stone bridges and streets. In the afternoon, visit the Shanghai Museum. The Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art and possesses a collection of 120,000 precious works. Its rich and high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy is specially celebrated in the world. Founded and first open to the public in 1952 and then moved in 1959 and again in 1996, the museum developed very quickly in aspects of acquisition, conservation, research, exhibition, education and cultural exchanges with other institutes. Its unique architectural form of a round top with a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese philosophy that the square earth is under the round sky, is a distinguished architectural combination of traditional feature and modern spirit.  In the evening enjoy a night cruise on the Huangpu River with the beautiful nightscape of this splendid city.

Day 14: Suzhou

Day excursion to one of China’s 41 heritage sites, the water city of Suzhou. The excursion includes a visit to ZhouZheng garden, Net Master Garden, a Silk making factory, and the New Suzhou Museum designed by architect I. M. Pei. Upon returning to Shanghai, we will have dinner in a local restaurant and then enjoy an evening cruise on the HuangPu river.

Suzhou, 80 km west of Shanghai is an historical city. Famous for its exquisite gardens and known as the cradle of silk making, Suzhou has been praised as a “paradise on Earth” since ancient times. It is a delicate city with classical and traditional Chinese style and design. The classical gardens of Suzhou embody the harmonious principles of Chinese garden construction which dictate that gardens should attempt to create a microcosm of the universe in a confined space.

Day 15: Departure

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.